Woman shot while driving in East Oakland

KGO

July 24, 2013 11:40:35 PM PDT

Nick Smith

OAKLAND, Calif. --

Oakland police are asking for the public's help after a 66-year-old woman was shot to death in her own car Wednesday afternoon. It happened on Fern Street near Brookdale Avenue, right by Home of Peace Cemetery.

Friends of the victim, Judy Salamon, told me off camera she'd just purchased a new cellphone. Police would not confirm that theft was a motive.

Salamon was from Canada and had lived in Oakland more than 30 years. She was described as an avid pet lover.

"I'm just stunned that somebody would shoot her," said a close friend of Salamon's.

Crime scene investigators spent hours in the 2400 block of Fern Street, placing evidence markers and searching for clues, looking for anything to explain the shooting death of 66-year-old Judy Salamon.

"This is just so sad and makes so little sense," Salamon's friend said.

Her close friend was reluctant to go on camera, but says Salamon was a Canadian citizen who had lived in Oakland for decades. She loved her dog Echo, wasn't afraid to stand up for what was right, but was also very cautious.

"I had been calling Judy because I knew she had the dog today," a friend of the victim's said.

Salamon lived less than a mile away from where she was killed, and had been taking care of Luz, her friend's dog.

A look from SKY7 HD shows the crime scene. Investigators were able to identify the victim using information found in Salamon's Subaru Outback.

Police haven't confirmed a motive for the crime or what may have been taken from the victim, but did say Salamon died at the scene.

"It appears that the victim was shot while she was inside of her vehicle and then her car crashed into a parked car," OPD Officer Johnna Watson said.

This is Oakland's 56th murder of the year. Police say there could be multiple shooters and they're using surveillance cameras to collect more information.

Friends of Salamon have only one question, "Oh my god, what are we doing," exclaimed one friend.

It's a question that can't be answered soon enough.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to call Oakland police at (510) 238-3821. Those who wish to remain anonymous may call (510) 773-2508.